Drivers in the city can expect lane closures and slowdowns to impact their daily commutes as the Public Works and Utilities Department began its annual road paving program on May 16.

Eighteen streets and street segments in the city have been chosen to be milled and re-paved this summer, including Capital Landing Road and a section of Richmond Road stretching from New Hope Road to Brooks Street.

“No Parking” signs will be posted in areas slated for re-paving one day before roadwork begins.

Dan Clayton, director of public works and utilities, says the roads are selected through an inspection process that gives the city a running list of streets needing a touch-up.

“If we don’t pave them this year, then the ones that don’t make the cut this year roll into next year,” said Clayton. “We also look at how long ago each street was paved, and what the frequency of paving in the past has been for that particular street.”

Clayton says he also takes complaints from the public into account, but that paving priorities are set by the funds available to the department in the city budget.

“If anyone had a complaint, we’ll look at those, but we have to set priorities because each year, we only have so much money to spend,” said Clayton. “Sometimes we can add a few more (roads) and other years we have to subtract a few, depending on the budget.”

The pavement project is scheduled to be completed by June 30 at a total cost of $617,818. In previous years, the city has been awarded $500,000 through Virginia Department of Transportation’s revenue sharing program to go toward the paving program, but it was unable to secure those funds for this year.

City spokesperson Lee Ann Hartmann said work dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, and that motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns and rough and uneven pavement while roadwork is being completed.

For a full list of the streets slated for paving and estimated work dates, visit bit.ly/2IwDh9P or call the city’s Public Works and Utilities Department at 757-220-6140.

Arriaza can be reached at 757-790-9313 or on Twitter @rodrigoarriaza0.